The Waterboys announce new collection of unheard Fisherman’s Blues-era recordings
The Waterboys have announced a new three-disc collection of previously unheard music from the Fisherman’s Blues period titled Atlantic Rain, which contains 25 tracks drawn from the band’s prolific 1986-88 recording sessions.
Band leader Mike Scott revisited the era’s master tapes in 2024-25, uncovering long-forgotten performances that never made the original cut. Among them are previously unheard songs such as “Come Back To Galway”, “Light Shine On Me” and “Endless Store”, alongside covers of material by Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie and Willie Nelson. The first single, “Too Close To Heaven”, is out now.
During the Fisherman’s Blues sessions, the Waterboys recorded nearly 400 multi-track reels, many running at half-speed to maximise recording time without changing tape. Around a fifth of those reels carried no song titles, only sparse annotations such as ‘instrumental’, ‘unknown’, ‘soundcheck’ or ‘jam’.
The new collection stands apart from the band’s 2013 box set Fisherman’s Box, which was previously thought to have exhausted the archive. Released in 1988, Fisherman’s Blues marked a sharp turn from The Waterboys’ earlier alternative rock sound. Having relocated to Ireland, the band absorbed roots, country and Celtic music. As Atlantic Rain demonstrates, that palette also extended to soul, old-time gospel and extended instrumental passages.
Alongside the album announcement, the band have released a remix of the classic “We Will Not Be Lovers”, which recently appeared in the Netflix series Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen.
The Waterboys will tour Europe this summer under the banner The Fisherman’s Blues Revue, with dates in Dublin, London and Glasgow. Steve Earle will join as a special guest, alongside original Fisherman’s Blues fiddler Steve Wickham and flautist Colin Blakey.
Atlantic Rain artwork
Atlantic Rain tracklist
“Too Close To Heaven (soul version)”
“Come Back To Galway”
“The Man With The Wind At His Heels”
“And Then The Gods”
“Light Shine On Me”
“Endless Store”
“This Land Is Your Land (studio version)”
“Saints And Angels (1988 version)”
“I Can't Feel At Home In This World Anymore”
“Knockin' On Heavens Door”
“Honky Tonkin'”
“No Expectations”
“When Doves Cry”
“Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground”
“Killing My Heart (full length)”
“Bob And Anto's Soundcheck”
“We Will Not Be Lovers (live take)”
“Lost Highway (double version)”
“The Good Ship Sirius / The Ship In Full Sail”
“Mister Saxman”
“The Waves”
“The Last Jam (long version)”
“Night Falls On Windmill Lane”
“Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band”
“Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)”
Atlantic Rain is released on 17 July via Chrysalis Records
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